Sleeve layer



May 9, 1950 D. w. SESSIONS SLEEVE LAYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1947 JNVENTOR fioaad ZZZ 5653150753 May 9, R950 D. w. SESSIONS SLEEVE LAYER 5 Sheets-SheetZ Filed Oct. 1, 1947 INVENTOR.

7 fio/zald ZM Jessi/'00s y 1950 D. w. SESSIONS 2,507,054

SLEEVE LAYER Filed Oct. 1, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fiatented May 9, 1950) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLEEVE LAYER Donald W. Sessions, Lansing, Mich.

Application October 1, 1947, Serial No. 777,319

12 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism designed and adapted for the purpose of ironing shirts or like garments and more specifically comprises a novel arrangement to efficiently iron the sleeves of such garments to greatly step up productive results along these lines of endeavor.

The mechanism herein disclosed and described is similar in many respects to the device of a like nature comprising the subject matter of an application filed in the name of the instant inventor on December 12, 1946, bearing the Serial No. 715,831, now Patent No. 2,499,931, issued March '7, 1950, of which the present application is a continuation in part.

It is one of the main objects of this sleeve layer to provide a means that may be used in combination with one or two conventional garment presses for the purpose of quickly and efficiently placing the sleeves of a shirt in pressing position with respect to an adjacent press or presses. With the dual press arrangement, one sleeve layer will function in the capacity to simultaneously bring both sleeves of a single shirt or other garment into operative pressing position with respect to both presses.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of this type which will automatically position the sleeves in an ironing position and then into stripping or receiving position with little effort on the part of the operator of the ironing combination.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sleeve layer of this kind which will function during operation to bring the sleeves into horizontal positions and in proper alignment with the bucks of the presses for engagement by the ironing shoes, and which layer also functions to automatically bring the shirt sleeves into convenient positions for stripping ironed sleeves and to receive unironed sleeves at stations removed from the heated ironing shoes with the latter disposed in their inoperative and raised positions.

Another object of this invention is to incorporate further means for easy actuation by the operator which will releasably look the sleeve holders of the layer in their charging positions for the convenience and feasibility of the operator. Although similar locking means could be used to retain the sleeve holders in operative ironing position, it is preferable to leave the sleeve holders free to better accommodate the sleeves to the contours of the bucks and heated shoes.

The use of a single hand control for the sleeve holders further enhances the efiiciency of the sleeve layer. This single control also releases the sleeve layer parts from their locked positions through actuation in one direction, while rotation or movement of the control in another direction actuates the sleeves and their holders into operative press engaging positions.

The sleeve holders are preferably semi-flexible to facilitate easy reception of the sleeves and to provide for the necessary flexing of such holders between the heads and bucks of the presses during the pressing operation. This flexibility in the holders also takes care of certain variations in the sleeve sizes.

The entire device is compactly constructed for ease of operation and to concentrate the working zone into a relatively small area to eliminate all unnecessary movements or to cut down lengths of movements by the operator during the shirt sleeve ironing period.

All other objects and advantages relating to the sleeve layer of the present invention and its mechanical working parts shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the sleeve layer as combined for use between two conventional heated shoe presses and as the same would appear with the sleeve holders and associated parts in operative pressing positions;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the sleeve layer as seen approximately along the line 2--2 in Fig. 1 showing the supporting bracket in section and with the left hand buck of Fig. 1 omitted; Fig. 3 is a detail cross sectional view of the rear portion of the sleeve layer with the adjacent bucks indicated in elevation, the view being taken substantially along the plane of the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view to illustrate further details of construction of the operating mechanism of the sleeve layer, this view being taken substantially along the line 44 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detail cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 5-5 in Fig. 2 to illustrate the locking mechanism utilized in this particular form of construction of sleeve layer.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the sleeve layer is shown in combination with a pair of heated shoe presses having bucks I and 2 adjacently arranged to be contacted either simultaneously or individually by their respective movable ironing shoes 3 and 4. Each buck l and 2 is supported by portions of the press standards 5 and 6, and these main parts of the presses are suitably spaced to position the presses as a whole by means of a bracket 1 that is conveniently fastened to each of the press standards 5 and 6. Bracket 1 is also used as a bridge between presses for the purpose of supporting the sleeve layer and to position the same in its proper operative relation with re spect to the two presses.

The main frame of the sleeve layer consists of a hollow base 8 secured to the bracket 1, the base supporting a pair of parallel overhanging frame bars 9 and 13 by means of cleats llll and l2--l2, respectively, although any other suitable means may be used to mount the bars upon said base.

A gear box I3 is mounted upon bars 9 and I0, and upon the forward end of the base 8. This box [3 contains the same general mechanism as does the gear box in the copending prior applicatiton of which this case forms a continuation in part. As seen in Fig. 4, the gear box i3 has an operating shaft 14 mounted for rotation in the gear box walls and projecting outwardly for fixed connection with a hub i5 having a manual hand operated control handle it secured thereto. A drive gear [1 is keyed to the shaft !4 by means of the key I8 (Fig. 4), the key being free to slide in the keyway IS in shaft l4 so that the shaft can be endwise shifted relatively 'to the housing of the gear box [3.

The purpose of the shiftable shaft [4 is to introduce an indexing or detent means which will stop the handle 16, and its connected parts, in a fixed position to dispose the sleeve holders in a predetermined position while covering the same with the sleeves of a shirt or while stripping the sleeves therefrom during the active'operation of the device.

The detent or stop means is best seen in Fig. 5 and comprises a collar 2|; secured by a pin 2! to shaft l4, and the collar 2E1 has a stop pin 22 on the face thereof for engaging in an opening 23 formed in the front wall 24 of the gear box I3. A suitable, expansion spring 25 carried upon shaft I4 and is interposed between the hub i5 and the surface of the wall 24 for the purpose of normally urging the shaft 14 endwise out of the housing of the gear box l3 and in a direction to cause pin 22 stay in opening 23 or to abut the inner surface of the gear box wall 24 when the pin 22 is not in register. with the opening 23. A push on handle IE will move pin 22 out of the wall openf ing 23 and any rotation of the handle [6 will throw the pin out of registry with respect to the opening 23 permitting free operation of the parts controlled by handle it.

Referring again to Fig. l, gear l1 meshes with an idler reverse gear 26 carried upon a stubshaft 21, and both gears i1 and 26 mesh with oppositely rotatable gears 21 and 28 respectively which are secured by set screws 29 and 38 to the gear box ends of the sleeve holder operating stub shafts 3| and 32.

A second pair of shafts 33 and 34 are swingably and rotatably connected with shafts 3| and 32. respectively by means of the universal joints 35 and 36. The outer and swingable ends of shafts 33 and 34 are guided in openings 31. and 38 formed in uprights 39 and 4110f a cross bracket 4| fastened to the rearward ends of the bars 9 and I0 and extending therebetween as best seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Bracket 4| is further provided with a cross brace. 42 having. a flattop.

surface 43 adapted for coaction with a pair of lifting cams 44 and 45 which are each fixedly secured to the shafts 33 and 34 respectively.

Each of the shafts 33 and 34 carries a sleeve holder 46 and 41, and as seen in Fig. 2, each holder consists of a semi-flexible open frame 48 terminating in a lower cross bar 49 having alternately oppositely formed fingers 5D and 5| connected therewith to engage circumferential disposed portions of the shafts 33 and 34 and to be secured thereto by screws 52 and 53 or in any other desirable and preferably removable manner. A suitable fabric envelope 54 is used to cover each sleeve holder and may be fastened thereto by means of a draw string 55 associated with the open end 56 of the envelope, suitable notches 51 and 58 being formed in the frame 58 adjacent the bottom portion to provide means which will prevent slippage of the draw string 55 and its connected envelope.

During the stripping and loading of the sleeve holders 46 and 41, the latter are disposed in the position indicated in Fig. 2-upwardly and forwardly tilted to be safely spaced from the hot shoes of the presses. Fig. 3 shows the same rela: tionship of the sleeve holders in dot. and dashed lines, the sleeve holders diverging upwardly and laterall outwardly to provide suitable clearance between the holders to conveniently accommodate the body part of the shirt while arranging the sleeves over the holders. These positions of the holders are positively determined by the reg istry detent means shown in Fig. 5 and also by the angular dispositions of the sleeve holder shafts 33 and 34 brought about through the cams 44 and 45 being in erect positions with respect to the surface 43 of the cross brace 42 of the bracket 4|.

To lower and rotate the sleeve holders into aligned and oppositely outwardly extended posi; tions over each of the press bucks I and 2 and into a common horizontal plane, the operator moves handle it slightly toward the gear box is e t tes th sam a lqclsw se d rection as viewed in Fig. 4 to revolve gears 21 a 8 in a r ct-1. 12 t sw sh reh de 45 and 41 toward the bucks and into the full line positions best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. After'the press heads 3 and 4 havev been lowered to press the sleeves carried by'the sleeve holders, the op; erator reverses the rotation of the handle Hi to, again bring the mechanism into, the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and dot, and dashed lines in Fig. 3,.

D r n the r tat on of th tub. h t 3'. and. 32, shafts 33 and 34 are brought frqm their in; dined it n in Fig. 2 pwnward int erelle z ta s i n s erein n F 1 and ?h inclination of the shafts being; brought about ugh the atta ms and v coas in upon the surface As of the. cross brace. 42 and; through the vertical guidance of the openings 3 1 and 33 in the uprights 39 and 46, the action being supplemented. through the instrumentalityof the universal joints 35 and 3.3, which make possible the articulated shafts which support and guide the sleeve holders of the sleeve layerde-.. scribed.

Operation of the detent means of Fig. 5. again locks the parts for convenient access by the op-. erator as previously explained.

Although the above description relates toa pre.-, ferred construction and arrangement of the sleeve layer of this invention as portrayed. in the ac-. companying drawings, changesv in the general;

combinations and in the individual elements are contemplated which are within the scope of the appended claims. All such modifications shall be governed by the breadth and scope of the claims as will the substitution of equivalent mechanisms to function in the capacity of the mechanisms comprising the disclosed device.

What I claim is:

1. A sleeve layer adapted for use between two adjacent presses comprising a pair of sleeve holders and operative means for actuating the sleeve holders from vertical sleeve receiving positions to horizontal flat operative pressing positions with respect to said presses, said operative means in cluding mechanism to tilt the sleeve holders forwardly and outwardly with respect to the heated parts of said presses to facilitate removal of the sleeves from the holders without injury to the operator.

2. A sleeve layer adapted for use between two adjacent presses comprising a bracket to connect said presses in predetermined positions with respect to each other, operative means mounted on said bracket and in fixed relation to both presses, and a pair of sleeve holders connected with said operative means for the upright reception of sleeves to be ironed by said presses in horizontal position, said operative means including mechanism to tilt the sleeve holders forwardly and away from said presses under actuation by said operative means.

3. A sleeve layer adapted for use between two adjacent presses positioned with their bucks in line, comprising a support disposed between said presses, operative means carried by said support, and a pair of sleeve holders connected with said operative means to receive sleeves to be ironed, said operative means including rotatable elements for said sleeve holders to actuate the latter from upright sleeve receiving positions to horizontal operative ironing positions with respect to said bucks, and said elements having tilting mechanism connected therewith to move the sleeve holders into forwardly tilted relation with respect to said bucks of the presses when actuated into sleeve handling position.

4. A sleeve layer adapted for use between two adjacent presses comprising a bracket to connect said presses in predetermined positions with respect to each other, operative means mounted on said bracket and in fixed relation to both presses, and a pair of sleeve holders connected with said operative means for the upright reception of sleeves to be ironed in horizontal position by said presses, said operative means including mechanism to tilt the sleeve holders forwardly and away from said presses under actuation by said operative means, and automatic detent mechanism connected with said operative means to lock the latter and said sleeve holders in sleeve receiving positions.

5. A sleeve layer adapted for use between a pair of ironing presses having bucks and heated shoes, comprising a pair of rotatable members supported between said presses, sleeve holders carried by said rotatable members respectively, operative actuating mechanism connected with the aforesaid members at one end to rotate the latter in opposite directions to displace said sleeve holders from substantially vertical positions to operative positions upon the bucks of the presses, and means connected with the other ends of said rotatable members to tilt said members and said sleeve holders during actuation by said operative mechanism from buck positions to sleeve handling positions whereby saidsleeve holders are tilted forwardly and away from the heated shoes during the handling of the sleeves by the operator.

6. A sleeve layer adapted for use between a pair of ironing presses having bucks and heated shoes, comprising a pair of rotatable members supported between said presses, sleeve holders carried by said rotatable members respectively, operative actuating mechanism connected with the aforesaid members at one end to rotate the latter in opposite directions to displace said sleeve holders from substantially vertical positions to operative positions upon the bucks of the presses, and means connected with the other ends of said rotatable members to tilt said members and said sleeve holders during actuation by said operative mechanism from buck positions to sleeve handling positions whereby said sleeve holders are tilted forwardly and away from. the heated shoes during the handling of the sleeves by the operator, and releasable locking means connected with said operative mechanism to counteract accidental movement of said sleeve holders by the operator during handling.

7. A sleeve layer for use between a pair of presses comprising a pair of parallel shafts, sleeve holders connected with said shafts for direct rotation therewith, gear means to rotate said shafts in opposite directions to actuate said sleeve holders from upright positions to coplanar positions in ironing relation to said presses, and coacting cam mechanisms connected with said shafts to tilt the same during the actuation of said sleeve holders between said two positions, said shafts being substantially disposed in the same plane with the sleeve holders when the latter are in ironing positions, and said shafts being in their maximum positions of tilt when said sleeve holders are in upright positions and tilted in a direction to dispose said sleeve holders forwardly and outwardly with respect to said presses.

8. A sleeve layer for use between a pair of presses comprising a pair of parallel shafts, sleeve holders connected with said shafts for direct rotation therewith, gear means to rotate said shafts in opposite directions to actuate said sleeve holders from upright positions to coplanar positions in ironing relation to said presses, and coacting cam mechanisms connected with said shafts to tilt the same during the actuation of said sleeve holders between said two positions, said shafts being substantially disposed in the same plane with the sleeve holders when the latter are in ironing positions, and said shafts being in their maximum positions of tilt when said sleeve holders are in upright positions and tilted in a direction to dispose said sleeve holders forwardly and outwardly with respect to said presses, and said gear means having a manual control handle to rotate said gears upon rotation of said handle.

9. A sleeve layer for use between a pair of presses comprising a pair of parallel shafts, sleeve holders connected with said shafts for direct rotation therewith, gear means to rotate said shafts in opposite directions to actuate said sleeve holders from upright positions to coplanar positions in ironing relation to said presses, and coacting cam mechanisms connected with said shafts to tilt the same during the actuation of said sleeve holders between said two positions, said shafts being substantially disposed in the .75 same plane with the sleeve holders when the latsoot-moi ter are in ironing positions, and said shafts be ing iii their maximum positions of tilt when said upright positions and tilted in a direction to dispose said sleeve holders forwardly and outwardly with respect to said presses, and a manually operable handle conneote'dwith said gear means to actuate the latter, said handle being" arranged for movement from an upright position to a horizontal position to move said sleeve holders in the same relation, and releasable automatic lock means to restrain movement of said handle and the sleeve holders while in upright positions.

10. A sleeve layer for use between a pair of presses comprising a pair of parallel shafts, sleeve holders connected with said shafts for direct rotation therewith, gear means to rotate said shafts in opposite directions to actuate said sleeve holders from upright positions to coplanar positions in ironing relation to said presses, and

coactin'g cam mechanisms connected with said shafts to tilt the same during the actuation of said sleeve holders between said two positions, said shafts being substantially disposed in the same plane the sleeve holders when the latter are in ironing positions, and said shafts being in their maximum positions of til-t when said sleeve holders are in upright positions and tilted in a direction to dispose said sleeve hold-- ers forwardly and outwardly with respect to said presses, and a manually operafole handle connected with said gear means to actuate the latter, said handle being arranged for movement from an upright position to a horizontal position to move said sleeve holders in the same relation, and releasable automatic lock means to restrain movement of said handle and the sleeve holders while upright positions, said lock means comrising separable elements to release said lock means upon bodily actuation of said handle at right angles to its normal plane of operation to move the sleeve holders.

" 11. A sleeve layer comprising movable means supported between two presses, sleeve holders connected with said movable means, operative means connected to actuate said movable mean: relative to said presses to preposition said sleeve holders, said operative means being adapted to move said sleeve holders from upright sleeve? receiving position to horizontal pressing position upon said presses, and mechanism to lock said operative means against movement while said sleeve holders are in sleeve receiving posi tions.

12. A sleeve layer for moving a pair of garment sleeves from an upright adjacent position into oppositely outwardly horizontal positions, comprising a pair of shafts, sleeve holders car ried by said shafts, a gear mechanism to rotate said shafts in opposite directions, means interposed between said shafts and said gear mech-- anism to allow said shafts to swing relatively to the gear mechanism, guide means to control the paths of movements of the swingable ends of said shafts, and cam mechanism to swing said shafts into positions during the operation of said gear mechanism whereby said sleeve holders are shifted into predetermined selected positions for the convenience and safety of the operator during the application or removal of the garnient sleeves from the sleeve holders.

DONALD W. SESSIONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STAT-ES PATENTS Number Name Date 2287, 646 Steele June 23, 1942 2,375,947 Robbel May 15, 1945 2,420,818 Davis May 20,, 1947 

